Legal Insights
Plain-language guides and case briefs on Philippine law — researched from the firm's law library of 184,000+ statutes, Supreme Court decisions, and agency issuances, and written so non-lawyers can understand and act on them.
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Abandonment vs Illegal Dismissal: Proving Intent to Abandon Employment
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the two requisites for valid dismissal due to abandonment, emphasizing employer's burden of proof.
Buy-Bust Conviction Affirmed: Court Upholds Life Sentence for Shabu Sale
Supreme Court affirms life imprisonment for two women caught selling shabu in a buy-bust operation, ruling prosecution proved guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Finality of Judgments: Untimely Motion for Reconsideration in Administrative Cases
An untimely motion for reconsideration makes a Court of Appeals decision final and executory, binding all parties in administrative cases.
Election LAW Challenging Board OF Canvassers Decisions ON Ballot Integrity
Dismissal of Appeals: Balancing Procedural Rules and Substantial Justice
The Supreme Court reminds courts that procedural rules serve justice, not defeat it, in dismissing appeals on technical grounds.
Can Co-Owned Property Be Sold When One Owner Refuses? A Philippine Case Study
Explore when co-owned property can be sold against an owner's wishes, plus key lessons from a Philippine Supreme Court ruling on ownership disputes.
Burden of Proof in Sexual Harassment Cases: Substantial Evidence Required
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that sexual harassment complaints must be proven by substantial evidence, not bare allegations, in administrative cases.
Bare Denials Cannot Overcome Positive Testimony in Buy-Bust Drug Convictions
Explore how the Supreme Court affirmed drug convictions despite denials, emphasizing the weight of positive police testimony in buy-bust operations.
Personal Liability of Corporate Directors: Due Process and Bad Faith Standards
When can corporate directors be held personally liable for labor debts? The Supreme Court clarifies due process and bad faith requirements.
Seafarers Disability Upholding Seafarer Rights Beyond Company Physician Assessments
Filing Baseless Complaints: Upholding Ethical Standards and Preventing Abuse of Legal Processes
The Supreme Court clarifies that withdrawing an administrative complaint against judges cannot stop disciplinary proceedings, ensuring accountability.
When Court of Appeals Loses Jurisdiction: Service of Orders and Deadlines in Philippine Appeals
Learn when service of court orders counts, how deadlines run, and when the Court of Appeals loses jurisdiction in Philippine appeals.
Habeas Corpus and Contempt: When a Judge's Power to Detain Goes Too Far
The Supreme Court reminds judges that contempt powers are drastic and extraordinary, and that habeas corpus protects liberty against judicial overreach.
Ombudsman's Power to Preventively Suspend: Due Process in Administrative Cases
The Supreme Court upheld the Ombudsman's authority to preventively suspend public officials, clarifying that such suspension is not a penalty and does not violate due process.
Failure of Elections vs Election Protest: Jurisdiction and Pleading Requirements
Supreme Court clarifies when election annulment petitions fall under COMELEC En Banc jurisdiction and why fraud allegations need an election protest.
Valid Service of Court Orders: When a Security Guard's Receipt Counts in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when service of court orders on a security guard counts as valid receipt, affecting deadlines for appeals.
Cash Deposits in Election Protests: Individual or Joint Responsibility?
In Soriano v. COMELEC, the Supreme Court ruled that each protestant must pay the full cash deposit for ballot revision, not share it with co-protestants.
Electoral Tribunals Exclusive Jurisdiction Challenging Congressional Elections After Proclamation
The Supreme Court clarifies the boundary between COMELEC's jurisdiction over election annulment and the exclusive authority of electoral tribunals over election contests.
Lawyer Suspended for Misappropriating Client Funds and Issuing Bouncing Check
Supreme Court suspends lawyer for one year for failing to return client's P100,000 and issuing a bouncing check.
Amendment of Pleadings: When Leave of Court Is Required
Learn when Philippine courts require leave of court for amended pleadings, based on the Supreme Court ruling in Maranan v. Manila Banking Corporation.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails When Circumstantial Evidence Falls Short in Murder Cases
The Supreme Court acquits a police officer of murder, ruling that circumstantial evidence and unalleged conspiracy cannot overcome reasonable doubt.
Respecting Voters' Intent: The Importance of Liberal Ballot Interpretation in Philippine Elections
How Philippine election law favors liberal ballot appreciation to protect voters' intent, and why courts defer to COMELEC's expertise.
Breach of Confidence When Employee Loyalty Fades Termination MAY BE Justified
When can an employer validly dismiss a confidential employee for breach of trust? The Supreme Court explains the rules in Divine Word College v. Aurelio.
Substantial Compliance Protecting Workers in Corporate Restructuring
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on substantial compliance in corporate restructuring and its impact on worker protections and employment security.